Musicals
Tim Minchin: Seriously funny
Australian musical comedian Tim Minchin is a swiss army knife of entertainment. He can be political, silly, and tear-inducing - all within the course of a song. As a composer he's written super-catchy… Audio
Music: The popularity of the 11 o'clock song
Music correspondent Kirsten Zemke looks at the phenomenon of the "11 o'clock number" - the theatre term for a big, show-stopping song. Audio
Celebrating the music of Stephen Sondheim
Today we're celebrating the music of Broadway composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. We've invited Auckland University musicologist Gregory Camp to join us to play some of Sondheim's work to give us… Audio
Music feature: Film musicals
Auckland University musicologist Gregory Camp tells us what makes a perfect song for a film musical and looks at both new releases as well as timeless classics! Audio
Joe Moran: 'Failure is what unites us'
Do you ever feel like a failure? Enter widely acclaimed observer of daily life Professor Joe Moran, not to tell you that everything will be OK in the end, but to reassure you that failure is an… Audio
Joshua Henry - marking a mark on Broadway
Broadway start Joshua Henry has been in New Zealand inspiring young people hoping to make it in the world of musical theatre at the Christchurch International Musical Theatre Summer School. Audio
Steve Young - collector of unusual musical albums
Anything can be a musical. The mega hits about the beliefs and practices of Mormons and that one about American history and a man named Hamilton are surely proof of that. How about a musical about dog… Video, Audio
Jesse Peach on bringing Once:The Musical to NZ
One of the world's most celebrated modern musicals is premiering in New Zealand this month, brought here by kiwi director Jesse Peach. Audio
'Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty'
After a decade musical maestro Tim Minchin is back in New Zealand to perform solo. He talks to Jim about taking back his art from the big studios and being on the stage by himself to sing and… Video, Audio
Kiwi Rules with Kevin Ireland
Today's Kiwi Rules guest Kevin Ireland is a poet, short story writer, novelist and librettist - someone who writes texts for musicals. He has had an incredibly successful career and among the many… Audio
A young person's guide to film music for the orchestra
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is currently putting together its 2019 season, and with school holidays underway we have engaged the help of a RNZ family member to compile a list of suggestions… Video
Junior Theatre Celebration: Timothy Allen McDonald & Stuart Hendricks
Soon - depending on whether your idea of hell or heaven is hundreds of kids performing musical theatre - the Aotea Centre in Auckland will either be an incredibly joyous place to be, or the place to… Audio, Gallery
La La Land the film…in concert!
The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra will be among the world’s first orchestras to present a one-of-a-kind live concert experience performing the soundtrack from La La Land alongside a full screening… Audio
The Show Did Go On
In 1992 a sudden financial crisis forced the Mercury theatre to close in dramatic fashion. Auckland Theatre Company rose from its ashes. Actor/director Simon Prast was there and recalls the upheaval… Audio
The Great Fire of London inspires a musical 350 years later
350 years in the making, a new Kiwi musical called Fire on the River is set to re-ignite interest in the Great Fire of London in 1666. Auckland writer-composer Graeme John Webber was inspired by a… Audio
Teddy Tahu Rhodes is Sweeney Todd
NZ Opera’s production of Sweeney Todd which is on at the moment. The story was originally published as a penny dreadful in 1846 that morphed over the years into a play and then the Broadway show, that… Audio
Sweeney Todd reviewed
Peter Hoar reviews New Zealand Opera and Victorian Opera’s production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Sweeney Todd. It stars Teddy Tahu Rhodes as Sweeney Todd and Australian soprano Antoinette… Audio, Gallery
Jesse Griffin on being a centaur, and loving The Front Lawn
Comedian and actor Jesse Griffin talks about The Front Lawn, a musical act that had a profound influence on him in the late 80's and early 90's. Video, Audio
Billy's Boot Camp
Boot Camp has begun for the six young boys cast in the lead roles of Auckland Theatre Company’s production of Billy Elliot the Musical. Aged 10-14, they’ve come together for an intensive, two-week… Audio